Phylogeny of the subtribe Asterinae (Asteraceae: Astereae): new circumscription for Asterinae and Aster and implications for pappus evolution
Abstract
Background: The subtribe Asterinae (Asteraceae: Astereae) comprises ∼300 species across 13 genera (including the well-known type genus Aster) with considerable horticultural and ecological importance. The pappus, a key character for dispersal and protection, is highly diverse and taxonomically important in Asterinae. However, the phylogenetic relationships within Asterinae and Aster remain poorly resolved, leading to persistent taxonomic controversies and obscuring the evolutionary history of the pappus morphology.
Methods: We reconstructed both plastid (using five newly developed markers) and nuclear [using 130 503 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated from double digest RAD sequencing] trees, based on a comprehensive sampling of 119 species representing all 13 genera of Asterinae and allied subtribes. Using these newly obtained trees, we inferred the evolutionary trajectories of pappus morphology across Asterinae.
Key Results: Both plastid and nuclear SNP trees resolved relationships within Asterinae with strong support. The previously defined Asterinae and Aster were revealed to be polyphyletic, splitting into four (plastid tree) or seven (nuclear SNP tree) clades, respectively. Both trees strongly supported a large clade containing most genera and species of the previously circumscribed Asterinae. Within this large clade, four consistent and highly supported subclades were recovered, while three additional clades were resolved outside of it. Incongruent placements of several taxa between the two trees were detected. Ancestral state reconstruction revealed extensive homoplasy in pappus evolution, undermining the taxonomic reliability of pappus morphology.
Conclusions: We redefine Asterinae to include only its core clade and recognize a single monophyletic Aster. This revised taxonomy of Asterinae consolidates 16 former genera of Astereae. Additionally, we propose one new subtribe (Chlamyditinae) and four subgenera within Aster – three of which are novel. This framework clarifies the taxonomy of Asterinae and Aster and lays the groundwork for future studies on the evolution of the pappus and other characters that may drive the rise of its remarkable species diversity.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026phylogeny,
title = {{Phylogeny of the subtribe Asterinae (Asteraceae: Astereae): new circumscription for Asterinae and Aster and implications for pappus evolution}},
author = {Guojin Zhang and Haihua Hu and Zhixi Fu and Guohao Niu and Bohan Jiao and Caifei Zhang and Meng Wei and Goro Kokubugata and Akiko Soejima and Jian Wang and Manana Khutsishvili and Xuejun Ge and Jiahao Shen and John C Semple and Luc Brouillet and Tiangang Gao},
journal = {Annals of Botany},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1093/aob/mcag225},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag225},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Phylogeny of the subtribe Asterinae (Asteraceae: Astereae): new circumscription for Asterinae and Aster and implications for pappus evolution
AU - Guojin Zhang
AU - Haihua Hu
AU - Zhixi Fu
AU - Guohao Niu
AU - Bohan Jiao
AU - Caifei Zhang
AU - Meng Wei
AU - Goro Kokubugata
AU - Akiko Soejima
AU - Jian Wang
AU - Manana Khutsishvili
AU - Xuejun Ge
AU - Jiahao Shen
AU - John C Semple
AU - Luc Brouillet
AU - Tiangang Gao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/25
JO - Annals of Botany
DO - 10.1093/aob/mcag225
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag225
AB - Background: The subtribe Asterinae (Asteraceae: Astereae) comprises ∼300 species across 13 genera (including the well-known type genus Aster) with considerable horticultural and ecological importance. The pappus, a key character for dispersal and protection, is highly diverse and taxonomically important in Asterinae. However, the phylogenetic relationships within Asterinae and Aster remain poorly resolved, leading to persistent taxonomic controversies and obscuring the evolutionary history of the pappus morphology. Methods: We reconstructed both plastid (using five newly developed markers) and nuclear [using 130 503 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated from double digest RAD sequencing] trees, based on a comprehensive sampling of 119 species representing all 13 genera of Asterinae and allied subtribes. Using these newly obtained trees, we inferred the evolutionary trajectories of pappus morphology across Asterinae. Key Results: Both plastid and nuclear SNP trees resolved relationships within Asterinae with strong support. The previously defined Asterinae and Aster were revealed to be polyphyletic, splitting into four (plastid tree) or seven (nuclear SNP tree) clades, respectively. Both trees strongly supported a large clade containing most genera and species of the previously circumscribed Asterinae. Within this large clade, four consistent and highly supported subclades were recovered, while three additional clades were resolved outside of it. Incongruent placements of several taxa between the two trees were detected. Ancestral state reconstruction revealed extensive homoplasy in pappus evolution, undermining the taxonomic reliability of pappus morphology. Conclusions: We redefine Asterinae to include only its core clade and recognize a single monophyletic Aster. This revised taxonomy of Asterinae consolidates 16 former genera of Astereae. Additionally, we propose one new subtribe (Chlamyditinae) and four subgenera within Aster – three of which are novel. This framework clarifies the taxonomy of Asterinae and Aster and lays the groundwork for future studies on the evolution of the pappus and other characters that may drive the rise of its remarkable species diversity.
SN - 0305-7364
SN - 1095-8290
ER -